Liquid wax applicator



May 21, 1968 w. A. SHEZRBONDY LIQUID WAX APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. SHERBONDY y 1968 w. A.SHERBONDY 3,384,438

LIQUID WAX APPLICATOR Filed on. 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A.SHERBONDY United States Patent 3,384,438 LIQUID WAX APPLICATOR WilliamA. Sherbondy, 2517 Guilford Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 FiledOct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,613 Claims. (Cl. 401139) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A liquid applicator device having a collapsible reservoirtank with slits in a flexible wall, the slits being openable by applyingexternal pressure to the tank.

This invention relates generally to floor waxers, and more specificallyto a new and improved valveless hand floor waxer having a collapsiblereservoir tank.

An object of the invention is to provide a valveless hand floor waxerhaving a collapsible reservoir tank which is constructed to obtain evendischarge flow and uniform application of the wax to the surface beingcovered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valveless hand floorwaxer having a collapsible reservoir tank which is adapted to serve asthe original container in which the wax is sold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valveless hand floorwaxer as generally described in the previous paragraphs which has anintegral handle socket and which may be provided with a filler openingthat is defined by either the handle socket or by an optional fillerspout.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valveless hand floorwaxer including a collapsible reservoir tank which is constructed tocontrollably release a uniform flow of wax and which is provided withintegral spreader structure for uniformly applying the wax.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedhand floor waxer having a valveless reservoir tank as generallydescribed above and which is further characterized by a simplified,inexpensive construction.

The foregoing objects are attained by a new and improved constructioncomprising a combined reservoir and material dispensing tank havingflexible, outwardly convex top and bottom walls. The handle is securedto the top wall of the tank. The bottom wall is provided with aplurality of self-closing fluid outlets in the form of thin, normallyclosed slits through which liquid wax can be controllably released ontothe surface being covered. A separate applicator cloth attachment or thelike is not required in the preferred embodiment. In use, the wax in thetank is dispensed directly onto the work surface by flexing the convexwalls inwardly to open the normally closed slits. Spreaders for the waxare integrally united with the bottom wall between the rows of slits.

It has been found that the preferred construction of the reservoir tankof this invention achieves more even dispensing flow of the wax thancould be obtained with prior art devices. Further, the tank constructionis such that the flow can be easily controlled by foot or hand pressureapplied to the tank by the user. Another important feature is that thespreaders cooperate in the new tank construction to obtain a moreuniformcoverage and application of the wax to the floor than has been possiblein the past.

The invention contemplates that the reservoir tank may serve as theoriginal container in which the wax is sold to the user. This featureprovides for added convenience to the user, since it is possible merelyto attach the operating handle to a new container reservoir tank and todis- Patented May 21, 1968 card the old one when the wax has been usedup. Thus, the invention eliminates the inconvenience and necessity ofrefilling a wax reservoir.

It is also possible to refill the tank with wax, if this is desired.According to one embodiment, a filler opening is defined by the integralhandle socket on the top wall of the tank. The handle serves as a plugfor the opening and can be easily removed from the socket when it isnecessary to introduce a new supply of wax. In another embodiment, thefiller opening is defined by a separate, optional filler spout.

All of the above features are attained in a new waxer construction whichcan be inexpensively manufactured. As will be made more apparent, thecollapsible, valveless reservoir tank, which may include the filleropening and the optional filler spout, can be simply molded as aonepiece plastic unit.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred constructioncontemplated by the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a ve tical cross-sectional view of the construction shown inFIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention; and,

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of still another embodimentof the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in particular,the floor waxer constructed according to the preferred embodiment of theinvention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. As shown, thewaxer 10 includes a reservoir tank 11 and a connected handle 12.

The tank 11 is an elongated vessel having flexible, outwardly convex topand bottom wall portions 13, 14, respectively. As shown, the upper ortop wall portion 13 is cambered and curves downwardly toward the ends 15of the tank to blend with the bottom wall portion 14. Thus, the tanktapers from a zone of maximum crosssectional height midway between itsends 15 to zones of minimum cross-sectional height at the end portions.

The tank 11 is made of a suitable synthetic plastic,

s ch as polyethylene or the like. Preferably, the material istranslucent so that the user can see the amount of wax remaining in thetank when the waxer has been used. The illustrated formation of the tankis such that it can be economically molded as a one-piece plastic unitby a simple blow molding operation.

A tubular handle socket 20 is formed integrally with the top wallportion 13 of the tank 11 between the ends 15. In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the handle socket 20 definesan opening 21 into the tank so that it can be filled with liquid wax orthe like. The socket 20 is formed with internal threads and an end ofthe handle 12 is threaded into the socket.

The flexible bottom wall portion 14 of the tank 11 is formed with a pluality of normally closed slits 26 which serve as self-sealing fluidoutlets. The longitudinal slits 26 are arranged in spaced rows whichextend between the end portions 15. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3.three such rows are provided, although a greater or lesser number may eformed depending on the size of the tank, the craracteristics of theliquid, and the specific use for which the device is intended.

The liquid dispensed from the tank 11 through the slits 26 is applied byspreaders 27. These spreaders 27 are preferably in the form of parallelstrips which extend along the opposite sides of each row of slits. Thespreaders 27 are formed of a porous material, such as polyurethane foam,sponge rubber, or the like, and are suitably secured to the bottom wall14, as by pressure sensitive adhesive. In addition to applying theliquid wax, the spreaders serve to space the bottom wall portion 14 fromthe work surface so that a uniform flow of liquid is obtained from theslits when they are open.

The manner of using the waxer is both simple and effective. Pressure isapplied to the tank 11 to flex the walls 13, 14 inwardly. The operatingpressure may be exerted through the handle 12 or by pressing a foot onthe top wall 13. The inward flexing of the walls causes the normallyclosed slits 26 to open and the wax to be expelled through the slits.The quantity of wax discharged in this manner can be controlled easilyand effectively by simply varying the pressure which is exerted on thetank and the amount of flexing of its walls. Because of the formation ofthe tank 11 wherein its internal crosssectional height tapers from amaximum near the center to a minimum near the ends, there is obtained animproved, even flow and distribution of the wax over the work surface.The spreaders 27 enhance the uniform surface coverage and even flow ofthe wax through the slits by maintaining the slitted portion of thebottom wall spaced from the work surface.

As generally described above, the construction of the tank 11 is suchthat it is particularly adapted to serve as the original container inwhich the wax is sold. This feature is made possible by the self-closingaction of the slits 26 which prevents wax in the tank 11 from beingdischarged when not in use. The weight of the liquid in the containertends to bow the bottom wall portion 14 outwardly and thus force theslits into firmly closed positions. When the wax in the container 11 hasbeen used up, the container can be discarded and the handle 20reconnected to a new one. However, if it is desired to re-use the tank,the handle can be easily threaded out of the socket 20 to permit wax tobe introduced through the filler opening 21.

In the modified construction illustrated in FIG. 4, the top wall portionof the tank 36 is formed with an integral filler spout 37 which isseparate from the handle socket 38. The filler spout 37 is suitablythreaded and a suitable member 39 is provided for closing the spout.

The bottom wall portion 40 of the tank 36 is formed with normally closedslits 41. Spreader members may be united with the bottom wall portion 40in the same manner as discussed above in conjunction with the embodimentof FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Alternatively, a substantially continuous spreadermember 42 of sponge rubber, plastic foam, or the like may be adheredover the outer surface of the bottom wall 40. As shown in FIG. 4, thecontinu us spreader member 42 is provided with slits 43 which arecontinuations of the tank slits 41. The slits 41 and 43 may be formed inthe same operation after the member 42 has been secured to the bottomwall of the molded tank 36.

The modified construction shown in FIG. 5 is substantially the same asthat shown above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 except that it isprovided with an additional applicator cloth 45 which is formed of anysuitable material such as cotton, chenille, or the like. The applicatorcloth 45 is wrapped around the bottom wall portion of the tank and issecured by protuberances 46, the cIUlh preferably being provided withcooperating eyelets. The protuberances 46 may be integrally molded withthe top wall portion 13 0f the container. As will be seen from FIG. 5,the spreaders or runners 47 space the cloth 45 from the slits so thatthe liquid in the container is prevented from wicking through the slitsand wetting the cloth when the waxer is not in use.

Many other modifications of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art in the light of the foregoing detailed disclosure.Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specificallyshown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid applicator device comprising a tank having a flexible wall,spreader means prortuding from said wall, said spreader means beingformed of a porous liquid applicator material, and said wall includingslits opening through said spreader means, said slits being openable todispense liquid from said tank when said wall is flexed.

2. The applicator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tank is aone-piece molded plastic unit including an integral handle socket, saidsocket forming an opening into said tank so it can be filled withliquid.

3. The applicator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tank is amolded plastic member including a filler opening, and means normallyclosing said opening.

4. The applicator device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said closingmeans comprises a handle, said handle having an end threaded into saidopening.

5. A valveless hand fioor waver comprising a collapsible reservoir tank,said tank having flexible outwardly convex top and bottom wall portionswith opposite ends, said top wall portion being cambered so that theinternal height of said tank tapers from a maximum midway between itsends to a minimum at the ends, said bottom Wall portion including aplurality of normally closed slits, said slits being openable byapplying external pressure to said tank to fiex said wall portionsinwardly, and means for securing a handle to project from said top wallportion.

6. The waxer as claimed in claim 5 including a plurality of parallelspreaders projecting from said bottom wall portion and extending betweenthe ends of said tank.

7. The waxer as claimed in claim 5 including a substantially continuousspreader secured to said bottom wall portion, said spreader includingopenings disposed over said slits.

8. A valveless hand floor waxer comprising a collapsible reservoir tank,said tank having flexible, outwardly convex top and bottom wall portionswith opposite ends, said top wall portion being cambered so that theinternal height of said tank tapers from a maximum midway between itsends to a minimum at the ends, said bottom wall portion includingparallel rows of spaced, longitudinally extending slits, said slitsbeing openable to dispense wax from said tank by applying externalpressure to flex said wall portions inwardly, means secured to saidbottom wall portion to apply wax dispensed through said slits, saidmeans being formed of a porous material, and a handle socket formedintegrally with said top wall portion for securing a handle thereto.

9. The waxer as claimed in claim 8 wherein said tank and handle socketare a molded one-piece plastic unit.

10. The waxer as claimed in claim 9 including a filler spoutformedintegrally with said top wall portion and spaced from said handlesocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ,989,201 1/1935 Kurtz et al.401-186 2,186,140 1/1940 Kurtz 40l186 2,771,224 11/1956 Noerger 222-2102,817,105 12/1957 Di Rubbo 401-207 3,214,783 11/1965 Perry et al. 401-283,226,761 1/1966 Adamsky 401-183 3,276,067 10/1966 Boyle et al. 40l--l86CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. E. L. ROBERTS, AssistantExaminer.

